Construction of a major mineral processing plant in Pangani District, Tanga Region, has begun after Shenghe Resources moved forward with its heavy mineral sands investment in Tanzania. The facility, located at Tajiri, is designed to process minerals produced locally and raw materials sourced from other African countries, positioning Tanzania as a potential regional processing hub for heavy mineral sands.
Construction of the Mineral Processing Plant Is Already Underway
Shenghe Resources Board Chairman Xie Bing confirmed that the company deliberately chose Tanzania as its processing base, even though it operates heavy mineral sands projects in Mozambique, South Africa and Madagascar. Speaking during a visit by Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde to Shenghe’s operations in Chengdu, China, Mr Xie said the company expects to complete the mineral processing plant within a short period.
“We have projects in Mozambique, South Africa and Madagascar, but we have chosen Tanzania as the centre for processing these minerals in Africa,” Mr Xie said.
Minister Mavunde welcomed the investment, noting that the decision to establish a processing plant in Tanzania was consistent with the country’s mining policy and legal requirement to add value to minerals locally. He directed Shenghe to speed up construction and ensure the plant is completed within the agreed timeframe, while also urging the company to finalize compensation payments for the few remaining areas affected by the project.
“This decision will contribute to job creation, increased revenue and the development of technology in mineral processing,” Mr Mavunde said.
The Facility Strengthens Tanzania’s Role in Regional Mineral Value Chains
Once operational, the mineral processing plant will serve as a processing point for heavy mineral sands from different African countries, potentially allowing Tanzania to capture a larger share of the value generated from the continent’s mineral resources. This development aligns with the Tanzanian government’s broader push to promote mineral beneficiation and reduce reliance on the export of unprocessed minerals.
The establishment of a facility capable of receiving mineral sands from multiple African nations could strengthen Tanzania’s position in regional mineral value chains while creating demand for supporting services and technical skills. For an industry that has long focused on extraction, the shift toward local processing represents a meaningful step in expanding the economic benefits derived from the mining sector.
Mr Xie also credited President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration for creating a favorable investment environment, saying it had encouraged Shenghe to expand its activities in the country. The government has been actively promoting investments that support local processing, technology transfer, employment and higher revenues from the mining sector.
The Pangani mineral processing plant adds to those efforts by positioning Tanzania not only as a producer of heavy mineral sands but also as a processing center for resources sourced from across Africa. As mineral beneficiation becomes an increasingly important priority for African mining nations, the progress at Tajiri signals that Tanzania is actively working to move up the mineral value chains that have historically been dominated by operations outside the continent.